Chapter 975: Chapter 221 Friend
The name "Zhongxuan Futu" had always been a taboo within the Zhong Xuan Family.
News was sealed from top to bottom, as if this person had never appeared, of course, this was to avoid disaster.
The elders of the Zhong Xuan Family, who concealed the details of Zhongxuan Futu’s death from Xuan Sheng, only said that he had died bravely on the battlefield. This was actually a form of protection for Xuan Sheng.
After all, Zhongxuan Futu had offended Emperor Qi, and his last words before death also bore a grudge.
As a child, Xuan Sheng did not have the ability to seek the truth. When he grew up, due to his complex feelings about Zhongxuan Futu, he was reluctant to touch upon it.
Perhaps only when he advanced to the Outer Building and went to the Lost World himself would he discover Zhongxuan Futu’s past.
But no matter what Xuan Sheng himself thought, Jiang Wang, as a friend, believed that he should inform Xuan Sheng of his findings in the Lost World.
His father might not have been responsible enough, but he still possessed greatness and brilliance.
As a friend, Jiang Wang hoped that Xuan Sheng could let go.
Even if he couldn’t. Even if Xuan Sheng could never forgive, at least he should know that he had a father who had made a great contribution to the Human Race and that was nothing to be ashamed of.
When speaking in detail, the friends Jiang Wang had made all had different personalities, but all were reliable.
Making friends is a process of mutual selection. For example, Jiang Wang initially met Yan Fu and Gao Zhe at the same time, but as they interacted over time, his contact with Gao Zhe gradually lessened. Not to say that Gao Zhe had a bad character, but ultimately, their personalities didn’t quite mesh.
Gao Zhe was too particular about some things, always prioritizing his own interests above all.
Now everyone is just fair-weather friends, eating and drinking together, occasionally hosting each other, no other expectations. Of course, how things will be in the future still depends on how they get along later.
Jiang Wang didn’t dare say he could see through anyone, after all, the heart is separated from the stomach. He was simply sincere with others, exchanging truth for truth. If the exchange didn’t happen, so be it.
As for Yan Fu, he was a person with a great sense of measure, luxurious and generous and enormously wealthy, anyone could feel comfortable interacting with him. But the more someone seems easy-going and uncalculating, the harder it is truly to connect with them.
Being chased by Jiang Wuyou and beaten was a rare occasion that disturbed his emotions, and maybe there was also a sense of guilt toward Liu Xiuzhang... In short, when he was troubled, the first person he thought of was drinking with Jiang Wang.
A group of mischief-making friends watched him take a beating, but at the same time sincerely helped him out of his troubles.
On the End of the World Platform, the support he offered on behalf of himself was a response to the word "friend."
Return a peach with a jade-like gem. That’s how the relationship deepened.
The morning after a night of heavy drinking, Jiang Wang sat in the courtyard on a stone chair, quietly worrying.
"What are you doing here so early in the morning?" Xu Xiangqian appeared from nowhere, grinning cheekily, "Still reminiscing about yesterday’s glory?"
He knew the matter with Zhu Bijing was hard to get over, deliberately making light and cracking jokes here,
But sadness was naturally inevitable, yet over the five days of enduring Ji Shaoqing’s ordeal, Jiang Wang had gradually come to accept this matter.
What he was worried about now was a completely different issue.
He glanced at that smooth and shiny forehead, knowing this guy was not very reliable, but he still felt somewhat embarrassed, and after thinking it over, he said to Xu Xiangqian, "If... I mean if."
Jiang Wang asked formally, "If you owed a lot of money, a very large amount. And you couldn’t pay it off for the time being, how would you handle it?"
Xu Xiangqian quickly and alertly said, "I have no money."
"Huh?" Jiang Wang was somewhat baffled.
Perhaps realizing that Jiang Wang wasn’t going to ask him for money, he relaxed and then said, "Owing money, no matter how much..."
He thought seriously for a moment, then said, "I have no money."
Jiang Wang didn’t understand, "Does that solve the problem?"
Xu Xiangqian spoke unabashedly, "Either kill me or wait until I have money. Of course, if you try to beat me, I’ll run."
"..." Jiang Wang was silent for a moment, then asked, "When will you repay then?"
Xu Xiangqian looked at him as if he was talking nonsense, "Of course, when I have money."
Jiang Wang was embarrassed, "And when will you have money?"
Xu Xiangqian spread his hands, matter-of-factly saying, "I don’t know about that."
Now he understood!
It was simply stalling!
Only then did Jiang Wang remember, this guy had already advanced his salary for who knows how many years at that Academy in Linzi. Each time that old dean saw him, he went for a broom, yet he hadn’t managed to kill him but let him escape to the sea...
Maybe donate an iron broom next time, after all, some accumulated dirt and debris are hard to sweep.
No matter what he thought inside, Jiang Wang really couldn’t learn Xu Xiangqian’s shameless methods: "This..."
"Brother Jiang, this is where you’re wrong!"
Unexpectedly, Xu Xiangqian suddenly changed his tune, his attitude doing a complete 180: "Not paying back the money you owe? How can you not repay your debts?!"
He was outraged, he was agitated, he was righteously indignant: "As men, we should stand tall and upright, a spit and a promise is as good as an agreement! You must pay back the money you owe! If you really can’t afford it, brothers will help you scratch it together! We’ll even smash the pot and sell the iron to help you repay! You mustn’t make a misstep and become an untrustworthy person!"
Jiang Wang was utterly dumbfounded by this sudden "voice of righteousness", thinking about knocking on that high forehead in front of him to see what sort of strange stuff was inside... but as his eyes glanced over, he saw Zhao Wuyan and Zi Shu standing outside the courtyard gate.
The two girls, unbeknownst to him, had approached the gate.
He instantly realized what was going on...
This guy was absolutely ruthless. In order to "curry favor", he didn’t hesitate to paint his friend black and whitewash himself completely.
Jiang Wang was so annoyed he wanted to smack that forehead of his even taller.
But in front of Zhao Wuyan, it really wasn’t appropriate to damage his face.
He could only grit his teeth and say, "I’ve learned my lesson, brother. We should indeed talk more when we have the time, so I can learn your unbending integrity and perhaps redeem my despicable soul."
Xu Xiangqian obviously knew that the "chat" Jiang Wang mentioned was not just a simple chat.
But he didn’t care.
He couldn’t beat him in a fight. But what of it?
As long as he didn’t get beaten up in front of Zhao Wuyan, anything was fine.
He nodded vigorously in response, generously saying, "No problem, let’s talk more! Good brother, with me here, you definitely won’t be led astray!"
Jiang Wang was about to drop some more sarcastic harsh words when Zi Shu came running over, fiddling with her clothing hem, and asked somewhat coyly, "How much do you owe?"
Xu Xiangqian slapped his forehead as if suddenly remembering something, and said to Zhao Wuyan, "Oh right, Instructor Zhao, I was actually looking for you, come, let’s talk over here!"
Zhao Wuyan really didn’t want to deal with him, but couldn’t stand his winking and nudging, so she reluctantly followed him out.
Xu Xiangqian hurriedly led Zhao Wuyan out of the courtyard, and before stepping out the gate, he even winked at Jiang Wang.
Jiang Wang was completely perplexed.
Is Xu Gaoe sick or what?!
Or is there something wrong with his eyes?
While Jiang Wang was still bewildered, Zi Shu asked again, "How much do you owe?"
It was then that he realized, this young girl wanted to help him repay his debt...
But why would she? He couldn’t quite comprehend it.
Had he even seen this girl from the Longmen Academy more than a few times? Were all the students of Longmen Academy so generous and spirited?
Jiang Wang was completely unaware of how much "effort" Xu Gaoe had secretly put in. While he had only seen her a few times, Xu Xiangqian had already spun tall tales.
Phrases like "unforgettable at first sight", "mentioned you several times", "asked about you last time", "thinks you’re really cute"...
But no matter what the young girl thought, Jiang Wang couldn’t possibly let her help repay the debt. What was the point of robbing Peter to pay Paul?
"Not at all!" Jiang Wang laughed: "Xu Gaoe was just joking with me earlier! He asked if his hair could be bought with money."
"Ah?" Hair is certainly important, and Zi Shu was distracted: "Can it?"
"Exactly. That’s why he got mad and asked for money."
"Did he give you money then?"
"Not at all! But he said he spent his emotions, and his expectations!"
"Oh, isn’t that being dishonest?"
"Yes, this man is skilled at extortion." Jiang Wang sighed, "I’ll say it again, you must keep your distance from him."
"Mhm mhm mhm." Zi Shu nodded repeatedly: "You told me last time... Since then, I’ve kept my distance when talking to him."
"Very good, keep it up!" Jiang Wang encouraged.
Although he felt somewhat guilty about deceiving such an innocent girl, letting Xu Xiangqian use her, stirring up chaos, wasn’t right either.
Better to keep your distance from Xu Xiangqian.
After all, close to Xu leads to baldness!
